Last updated October 2026
Ocean Beach is the surf beach at the very end of the road on Whangārei Heads, running north from the foot of Bream Head (Te Whara) and facing the open Pacific.
Local anglers name it as one of the few surfcasting beaches near Whangārei, and the rocks at its southern end, under Bream Head, are where kingfish are reported. It is a busy surf and swimming beach with strong rips, so fish away from the flags and the surfers.
At a Glance
- Location
- End of Ocean Beach Road, Whangārei Heads; car park on Ranui Road at the southern end
- Water
- Open Pacific coast north of Bream Head (sea)
- Main species
- Surfcasting in the gutters; kingfish reported off the Bream Head rocks
- Best time
- Small swell days; outside busy summer swimming hours
- Suits
- Surfcasters with long rods; the rocks are for experienced anglers only
- Getting there
- About 45 minutes’ drive from Whangārei city
- Lifeguards
- Whangārei Heads Surf Lifeguards, Labour Weekend to Easter
- Dogs
- Summer time limits on the beach; banned at all times on Bream Head and Kauri Mountain Beach
- Tide port
- Marsden Point (LINZ standard port)
- Cost
- Free
- Low 2:01 am 0.6 m
- High 8:24 am 2.6 m
- Low 2:22 pm 0.7 m
- High 8:31 pm 2.5 m
Best times today: around 2:01 am, 8:24 am, 2:22 pm and 8:31 pm (2 hours either side of each tide change), and around 1:10 am and 12:46 pm (moon overhead and underfoot).
Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes best. Full 7-day Whangārei tides ›
Predictions only; actual tides vary with weather.
About Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach lies directly north of Bream Head, the high bluff at the end of the range that forms the Whangārei Heads skyline. From the air, the sand curves north-west from the car park, backed by dunes with a stream winding behind them to the sea.
A rocky outcrop marks the northern end of the beach, and past it is the wilder Kauri Mountain Beach, about 5 km long. At the southern end, rocks and a grassy knoll sit at the foot of the headland, with Moturaka Island and the Bream Islands just offshore.
The beach is also the eastern end of the Te Whara Track, which climbs over Bream Head to Urquharts Bay. The trail is at least 700 years old and takes about six hours one way, with steep and narrow sections. The whole headland is wāhi tapu and sacred to Ngātiwai, so visitors are asked to stay on the track.
A lookout above the beach holds a memorial to the only navy ship lost to enemy action in New Zealand waters. Dolphins are often seen just offshore, and the Hen and Chicken Islands lie about 12 km off the headland. Ocean Beach is popular for surfing and bodyboarding, so expect company in the water on fine days.
How to Fish Ocean Beach
Read the beach
Walk the sand before you set up and look for the gutters: patches of darker, smoother water where the waves stop breaking, often beside a rip heading back out. That is where fish move along the beach to feed, so cast into or across the gutter rather than over the breaking bars.
The banks shift with every big swell, so the good spots change. The hours either side of a tide change, while the water is moving, tend to beat the slack.
Be realistic: local anglers rate Ocean Beach as a fun beach to fish rather than a reliable one. Come for the setting and a few hours in the surf, and keep your expectations open.
The rocks under Bream Head
At the southern end the sand gives way to rock at the foot of Bream Head, facing Moturaka Island. Anglers report kingfish off Bream Head; cast lures from the rocks on calm mornings. This is open-ocean rock with no shelter from an easterly swell. Fish it only when the sea is flat, never alone, and only from ledges well above the wash.
What to catch and what to use
- Kingfish: off the Bream Head rocks. Bring a heavy rod, strong line and a selection of lures.
- Surf fish: ask at a tackle shop in Whangārei what has been coming off the Heads beaches lately, then rig for it. Carry bait and a few small lures so you can switch if one is not working.
What to bring
A long surf rod to reach the outer gutter, a sand spike, sinkers heavy enough to hold in the wash, and a headlamp if you are fishing into dark. Buy bait and ice in Whangārei before you drive out.
Getting There and Facilities
- Driving: follow Whangārei Heads Road all the way to its end at Ocean Beach, about 45 minutes from Whangārei city.
- Parking: the Ocean Beach car park is on Ranui Road at the southern end of the beach, beside the start of the Te Whara Track.
- Lifeguards: Whangārei Heads Surf Lifeguards patrol between Labour Weekend and Easter. Set up well away from the flags.
- Walks: Te Whara Track to Bream Head and Urquharts Bay starts from the beach.
- More about the beach: for surfing, swimming and patrol details, see our Ocean Beach guide.
Rules and Safety
- MPI’s Auckland and Kermadec rules apply to all fishing here, using the Auckland East limits. You do not need a licence for sea fishing.
- Ocean Beach is outside the Whangārei Harbour Marine Reserve: both parts of that reserve are inside the harbour.
- Rips: strong rips can form along the beach. Do not wade out to reach a gutter, and keep an eye on anyone with you.
- Rocks: the Bream Head end takes the full force of the ocean. Stay off it in any swell and wear a lifejacket.
- Dogs: the Whangārei District Council bans dogs at all times from the southern end of Ocean Beach around Bream Head to Urquharts Bay, and on Kauri Mountain Beach north of the rocky outcrop. On the beach between them, most Whangārei beaches allow dogs only before 9am and after 5pm from 20 December to 31 January; check the council’s map for current rules.
- Bream Head Scenic Reserve is kiwi habitat: no dogs on the tracks or the headland.
Helpful Resources
MPI Auckland and Kermadec fishing rules: the current limits and closures that apply off Whangārei Heads.
Whangārei District Council: Bream Head Scenic Reserve: parking, the Te Whara Track and reserve rules.
Whangārei District Council: Dogs on beaches: where and when dogs are allowed on Whangārei beaches.
Common Questions
Where is Ocean Beach?
At the end of Whangārei Heads Road, about 45 minutes from Whangārei city. The car park is on Ranui Road at the southern end, below Bream Head.
Can you surfcast at Ocean Beach?
Yes. Local anglers count it among the few surfcasting beaches near Whangārei. Look for gutters between the sandbars and cast into them.
What can you catch at Ocean Beach?
Kingfish are reported off the rocks under Bream Head. For surf fish, ask at a Whangārei tackle shop about recent catches before you go.
Can I fish the rocks at Bream Head?
Only in calm conditions, with a companion and a lifejacket. The rocks face the open ocean and take the full swell.
Do I need a fishing licence?
No. You can fish the sea off Ocean Beach without a licence, as long as you keep to MPI’s Auckland and Kermadec limits.
Is Ocean Beach patrolled?
Yes, by Whangārei Heads Surf Lifeguards between Labour Weekend and Easter. Fish well away from the flagged area.
Can I bring my dog?
Not onto Bream Head or Kauri Mountain Beach at any time. On Ocean Beach itself, summer time limits apply from 20 December to 31 January.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- Tides today: Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ).